Published: March 23, 2014

Original Link [Turkish]

Hi there! Musical scene in Russia is intensively developing. There are many interesting bands in various genres and their amount is rising. 

In 2008 A. And K. decided to close the melodic black metal project “Autarchy”. There was no motivation for us to do such kind of music, so we wanted to create something new.  The first song we recorded was “Миг последней весны” and it gave birth for our new project with new conception and music. Soon the band got its name – “Epitimia” and the first demo tape “О, ты, чье имя мрет на трепетных устах (Demo MMVIII)” was out on Self-Mutilation services.  

Six years have passed and the music of Epitimia changed from ambient/depressive black metal to post-black metal filled with experiments. Four full-lengths were recorded, including the double-album “(Un)reality”, two split albums were made. Now Epitimia consists of four members, M. joined the band as drummer and backing vocalist and I., who performs various guitar parts. 

(Un)reality is a result of our two years of work, so it is quite ambitious album. It is also very complex and it is definitely a step forward in band’s evolution. We like the album’s sound and we like that it contains various musical influences. Glad that many people notice these little experiments. We hope that we will reach wider audience with this work.

First of all, this is the longest album we’ve ever made; it has 18 tracks and about 2 hours of total playing time, so it is a big challenge for a listener. It has more complex conception and more interesting storyline than our previous albums. Also the sound became better as we are developing our playing technique and sound engineering skills. But everything goes as it used to be – we always are changing, so we think that it is one of the distinguishing features of Epitimia.

All the work on the album was done at home. Usually we met together and jammed till some good riffs appeared. Some guitar parts were made by A. by himself and then arranged using drum machine and some synths.  “(Un)reality” is the first album where we used saxophone as additional instrument. It was recorded by D’Arcy Molan with a great help of Terry Vainoras from death-doom band “Subterranean Disposition”. Then, when all the music was done, we recorded the vocals. 

The main theme we deal on the album is alienation and isolation of the individual from the society. So, on the new album we continued the main idea of our last album “Faces of insanity”. But this isolation is also a self-contemplation and the search for the absolute truth by the lyrical hero. 

The front cover art of “(Un)reality” describes the moment when the hero finds this absolute truth in the end of the story. It depicts his spiritual insight.

We totally satisfied with Hypnotic Dirge Records and really appreciate what they done to bring our music closer to large auditory audience. 

Every year we became farther from ambient black metal scene and more into post-black metal scene. So, we are looking forward mostly for some atmospheric and post black metal albums. The last ambient black metal album that impressed us was “Wind” from Russian band Melankoli. The album in this style we are waiting for I think is only “Echoes From η Carinae” by Alrakis.

Now we are working at the compilation with our old songs re-recorded and re-arranged in more “blackgazish” way. We also have some plans for our side project “Depicting Abysm”. 

Talking about the best albums of a year we can definitely choose 

Wedrujacy Wiatr - Tam, gdzie miesiac oplakuje swit,

Gris - A l'ame enflammee, l'ame constellee...,

Deafheaven – Sunbather,

The Ocean – Pelagial,

Heiden - A kdybys uz nebyla, vymyslim si te,

Leucosis – Leucosis,

Darktrance – Pessimum,

Errata - L'autre hemisphere,

Csejthe – Réminiscence,

Redwood Hill – Descender,

Paysage d'Hiver - Das Tor,

Rorcal – Vilagvege,

Thaw – Thaw,

Watain - The Wild Hunt

Very hard question) There are some albums we are raised on, for example Butterfly temple’s album “Сны северного моря”. And it is a perfect example of Russian metal music. There are also many bands that we really like: Откровения дождя, Abstract Spirit, Оргия Праведников, Hieronymus Bosch, so may be that they are in top-5 for now.

Well, we know some basic facts about Turkey from geography lessons. Also, you have killer exploitation movies and some great directors with their own masterpieces. For example “Yol” from Yilmaz Güney. Some Turkish bands are also known in Russia: splendid post-rock band “Kafabindunya”, interesting depressive black metal project “Cragataska”, death metal band “Thrown to the Sun” and death doom band – “Acedia”.

Well, we tried your official page, but we did not understand much, due to the Turkish language. But your mission– introducing musical bands and projects to the Turkish auditory - is very important.

Thank you for your interest and your questions! Keep supporting music and people who are involved in making it!